Stop Using Matthias to Defend Apostolic Succession: A Protestant Appeal to Catholics and Orthodox

In this video, we take a closer look at one of the most common Catholic and Orthodox arguments for apostolic succession: the appointment of Matthias in Acts 1. While many treat this account as a slam-dunk proof, a careful reading shows it’s about completing something unique and unrepeatable—not establishing a chain of episcopal succession. I make a direct appeal to my Catholic and Orthodox friends: if you want to argue for apostolic succession, that’s your choice—but stop using Matthias to do it. We’ll walk through the passage, examine the logic, and see why using this text actually undermines the very case it’s supposed to prove.